Sloppy weather led to a sloppy start in Albany, N.Y., during Saturday’s rematch of last year’s Premier Lacrosse League championship game between the Maryland Whipsnakes and the Utah Archers.
Both teams started a combined 2-for-18 shooting until Archers defensive midfielder Beau Pederson’s goal at the 9:25 mark of the second quarter. The rivalry matchup was neck-and-neck throughout, but Archers’ goalie Brett Dobson’s 15 saves made the difference, as Utah eked out a 8-7 win.
Attackman Connor Fields carried the Archers offense for the majority of the game, and his burden was only increased when midfielder Grant Ament exited the contest at the end of the third quarter with a hamstring injury, which has unfortunately plagued his professional career.
Fields led in shots (10) and goals (four). Since he joined the Archers in 2023, Fields has scored at least a hat trick in every game at his alma mater of UAlbany.
“Coming out of high school, [Albany] was the only offer I had,” Fields said. “This whole week here just brings back a lot of good memories. I love playing on that field. I think there’s a great fan group out here, so it’s fun playing in front of those passionate lacrosse fans.”
Rookie second-round pick Sam King stepped into Ament’s role as a facilitator from the midfield line and was essential to the Archers pulling away. He finished with three assists, including the assist that set up the winner by midfielder Tom Schreiber with four minutes left.
Rob Pannell scored his first goal on the Whipsnakes with 4:56 remaining in the first half after getting his hands free in the slot, but the veteran was neutralized the rest of the game. Matt Brandau, who was traded from Philadelphia in the offseason, leveled the score at 3 after Pannell’s goal.
Fields got the lead back for the Archers with a crease-driving goal during a slow break with 2:38 remaining in the first half. He dodged while both sides were substituting, leaving him one-on-one with defender Ajax Zappitello on the low wing — Fields’ sweet spot. Zappitello got his revenge on the next possession, pushing Fields down to the soaked turf before earning a takeaway check, and Utah went into halftime with a 4-3 lead.
Brandau buried his second goal of the game to tie the matchup at 7 with 4:48 remaining. He baited defensive midfielder Piper Bond into a pick that he didn’t use to score a low-to-low rip past Dobson.
Joe Nardella and the Whipsnakes’ wings dominated the faceoff, winning 79 percent, but it was all for naught, as Maryland failed to score in the condensed 32-second shot clock.
“We like ourselves in the short clock,” Archers head coach Chris Bates said. “I think there’s a heightened sense of urgency and communication, and we know what we want to give up.”
Veteran defenders Graeme Hossack and Warren Jeffrey were their usual dominant selves, but first-round pick Brendan Lavelle particularly stuck out in his PLL debut. The rookie held Matt Rambo to zero points.